Adjustable dumbbell

ABSTRACT

An adjustable dumbbell device includes a handle bar having a bore formed in the handle bar, and having a slot formed in one end of the handle bar, a weight member includes an engaging member for engaging with the slot of the handle bar and for detachably attaching to the handle bar, the weight member includes an orifice for aligning with the bore of the handle bar, and a latch is slidably engaged into the bore of the handle bar, and extendible out of the handle bar and engageable into the orifice of the weight member for securing the weight member to the handle bar. One or more weight members are adjustably attached to the handle bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable dumbbell, and more particularly to an adjustable dumbbell assembly having an easily and quickly adjustable structure and having a relatively decreased weight for the adjustable dumbbell.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical adjustable dumbbells have been developed and provided for conducting various exercise operations, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,413 to Kupferman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,997 to Roth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,093 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,214 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,641 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,811,213 to Chen, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,469 to Chen disclose several of the typical adjustable dumbbells each including a number of weight rings that may be selectively or adjustably secured together for adjusting the weight of the dumbbells.

Normally, in the typical adjustable dumbbells, two extension carriers or tracks are formed or provided on the end portions or extended outwardly from the end portions of the central handle bar, and the weight rings may be selectively or adjustably secured to the extension carriers or tracks.

However, the extension carriers or tracks are required to be permanently formed or provided on the end portions of the central handle bar such that the extension carriers or tracks and the central handle bar may form and may include a greatly increased length for the typical adjustable dumbbells.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,690 to Schook discloses another typical adjustable dumbbell including a number of weight rings that may be selectively or adjustably secured together for adjusting the weight of the dumbbells, and the weight rings each include an outer thread for threading with the inner threads of the other weight rings and for securing the weight rings together.

However, it takes time to thread the weight rings together and to unthread the weight rings from each other, in addition, the weight rings or weight members may not be solidly secured together and may have a good chance to be unthreaded or disengaged from each other while in use.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional adjustable dumbbells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable dumbbell assembly including a structure that may be easily and quickly adjusted to different weights.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable dumbbell assembly including a structure having no extension carriers or tracks formed or provided on the end portions or extended outwardly from the end portions of the central handle bar such that the total length of the dumbbell assembly may be selectively decreased.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable dumbbell assembly comprising a handle bar including a first end, and including a bore formed in the handle bar, and including a slot formed in the first end of the handle bar and communicating with the bore of the handle bar, a weight member including an engaging member for engaging with the slot of the handle bar and for detachably attaching to the first end of the handle bar, the weight member including an orifice formed therein for selectively aligning with the bore of the handle bar, and a latch slidably engaged into the bore of the handle bar, and extendible out of the first end of the handle bar and engageable into the orifice of the weight member for securing the weight member to the handle bar and for allowing the weight members to be selectively or adjustably attached or mounted onto the handle bar without extension carriers or tracks.

The handle bar includes a cavity formed therein and communicating with the bore of the handle bar, and a post is attached to the latch and slidably engaged with the cavity of the handle bar. The latch includes a knob slidably engaged onto the post, and the knob includes a projection extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the cavity of the handle bar and for anchoring the knob and the latch to the handle bar and thus for anchoring the selected number of the weight members to the handle bar.

A spring biasing member may further be provided and engaged onto the post and engaged with the knob for biasing the projection of the knob to engage with the cavity of the handle bar and for stably latching or locking the latch to the handle bar and/or the weight members. The handle bar includes a seat formed therein and communicating with the cavity of the handle bar for selectively engaging with the projection of the knob and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining or positioning the knob and the weight member to the handle bar.

The weight member includes a passage formed therein and communicating with the orifice of the weight member for slidably receiving and engaging with the post. The weight member includes a recess formed therein and communicating with the passage of the weight member. The weight member includes a seat formed in the weight member and communicating with the recess of the weight member.

The engaging member of the weight member is selected from a dovetail, and the slot of the handle bar is selected from a dovetail slot engaging with the dovetail. The engaging member of the weight member is tilted including a relatively wider lower portion and a relatively narrower upper portion, and the slot of the handle bar is tilted including a relatively wider lower portion and a relatively narrower upper portion.

The weight member includes a slot formed therein and communicating with the orifice of the weight member. The latch includes a guide channel formed therein, and the handle bar includes a stop attached to the handle bar and engageable with the guide channels of the latch for guiding and limiting the latch to slide relative to the handle bar and for guiding the latch to suitably engage with the weight member and for preventing the latch from being disengaged from the handle bar.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of an adjustable dumbbell assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable dumbbell assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the adjustable dumbbell assembly, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the adjustable dumbbell assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adjustable dumbbell assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a central handle bar 10, and a number of weights 50, such as weight rings or plates or members 50 to be selectively or adjustably secured to the central handle bar 10, and to be easily and quickly adjusted to different weights for the adjustable dumbbell assembly.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the handle bar 10 includes an elongated or longitudinal hole or bore 11 formed therein (FIG. 3), and includes one or more (such as two) end portions 12, 13 each having a plate 14 extended radially and outwardly therefrom, the bore 11 of the handle bar 10 also formed through the plates 14, and the plates 14 each include a slot 15, such as a dovetail slot 15 formed therein (FIG. 4), and communicating with the bore 11 of the handle bar 10, best shown in FIG. 4.

The plates 14 each further include a cavity 16 formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion thereof and also communicating with the bore 11 of the handle bar 10, and each further include a shoulder or seat 17 formed or provided in the plate 14 and communicating with or located beside the cavity 16 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10. One or more (such as two) rods or latches 20, 21 (FIG. 3) are slidably engaged in the bore 11 of the handle bar 10 and extendible out of the plate 14 and the end portions 12, 13 of the handle bar 10.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the latches 20, 21 each include a guide channel 22 formed therein. One or more (such as two) fasteners or screws or stops 23 are threaded or attached or mounted to the handle bar 10 and engaged with or into the bore 11 of the handle bar 10, and also engaged with or into the guide channels 22 of the latches 20, 21 respectively for guiding and limiting the latches 20, 21 to slide or to move relative to the handle bar 10, and for preventing the latches 20, 21 from being disengaged or separated from the handle bar 10.

A column or post 24 is threaded or attached or mounted to each of the latches 20, 21, and substantially perpendicular to the respective latch 20, 21, a catch or knob 30 is slidably attached or mounted or engaged onto the post 24 and includes a stop or key or tongue or projection 31 extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the cavity 16 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10, and/or for selectively engaging with the seat 17 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10, and for selectively anchoring or retaining or positioning the knob 30 and thus the latches 20, 21 to the plates 14 and the handle bar 10.

A spring biasing member 32 may be provided and engaged onto the post 24 and engaged with the knob 30 for biasing and forcing or moving the projection 31 of the knob 30 to engage with the cavity 16 and/or the seat 17 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10, and for anchoring or retaining or positioning the knob 30 and thus the latches 20, 21 to the plates 14 and the handle bar 10, and thus for preventing the knob 30 and the latches 20, 21 from moving or sliding relative to the handle bar 10.

The weight members 50 each include an engaging member 51, such as a dovetail 51 formed or provided on the inner portion 52 thereof (FIG. 4) and faced or directed toward the plate 14 for selectively engaging with the dovetail slot 15 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10, and for detachably or changeably or removably attaching or mounting or securing to the plate 14 or the end portions 12, 13 of the handle bar 10. It is preferable that the dovetail slot 15 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10 and the dovetail 51 of the weight member 50 include a tilted or inclined structure or configuration having a relatively wider lower end or portion 18; 58 and a relatively narrower upper end or portion 19; 59.

The weight members 50 each include a central bore or orifice 53 formed therein for selectively aligning with the bore 11 of the handle bar 10 and for selectively and slidably receiving or engaging with the latches 20, 21 respectively and for further anchoring or retaining or positioning the weight members 50 to the plate 14 and the handle bar 10. The weight members 50 each further include a slot or passage 54 formed therein and communicating with the orifice 53 of the weight member 50 for slidably receiving or engaging with the post 24, and thus for allowing the latches 20, 21 to be moved or engaged into the orifice 53 of the weight member 50 with the post 24 and the knob 30.

The weight members 50 each further include a recess 55 formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion thereof and communicating with the passage 54 and/or the orifice 53 of the weight member 50 for receiving or engaging with the projection 31 of the knob 30, and each further include a shoulder or seat 56 formed or provided in the weight member 50 and communicating with or located beside the recess 55 of the weight member 50 and also provided for engaging with the projection 31 of the knob 30 and thus for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining or positioning the knob 30 and the post 24 and the weight member 50 to the handle bar 10.

It is to be noted that the engagement of the engaging member or dovetail 51 of the weight member 50 with the dovetail slot 15 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10 may suitably anchor or retain or position the weight member 50 to the handle bar 10 and may prevent the weight member 50 from moving forwardly, rearwardly or axially, laterally, and upwardly relative to the plate 14 of the handle bar 10, and allows the weight member 50 to move only downwardly relative to the plate 14 of the handle bar 10, or to move only from the relatively narrower upper end or portion 19; 59 toward the relatively wider lower end or portion 18; 58. The engagement of the latches 20, 21 with the orifice 53 of the weight member 50 may solidly and stably anchor or retain or position or secure the weight member 50 to the plate 14 of the handle bar 10 and may prevent the weight member 50 from being disengaged or separated from the plate 14 of the handle bar 10.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the engaging member or dovetail 51 of the weight member 50 may first be engaged with the dovetail slot 15 of the plate 14 or of the handle bar 10, or may be engaged with the dovetail slot 57 of the weight member 50 (FIG. 4) that is formed or provided in the outer portion 570 thereof, for allowing one or more weight members 50 to be selectively or adjustably attached or mounted or secured or engaged onto the plate 14 and/or the end portions 12, 13 of the handle bar 10, and the latches 20, 21 may then be moved or engaged into the orifice 53 of the weight member 50 with the post 24 and the knob 30 for solidly and stably anchoring or securing the weight members 50 to the plate 14 of the handle bar 10 and may prevent the weight members 50 from being disengaged or separated from the plate 14 of the handle bar 10.

It is further to be noted that the latches 20, 21 may be slidably received and engaged in the bore 11 of the handle bar 10 and may then be selectively extended out of the plate 14 and the end portions 12, 13 of the handle bar 10, and thus may be selectively engaged into the orifices 53 of the weight members 50 for solidly and stably anchoring or securing the weight members 50 to the plate 14 and the end portions 12, 13 of the handle bar 10, such that then length or the width or the dimension of the adjustable dumbbell assembly may be suitably decreased.

Accordingly, the adjustable dumbbell assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a structure that may be easily and quickly adjusted to different weights, and having no extension carriers or tracks formed or provided on the end portions or extended outwardly from the end portions of the central handle bar such that the total length of the dumbbell assembly may be selectively decreased.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. An adjustable dumbbell assembly comprising: a handle bar including a first end, and including a bore formed in said handle bar, and including a slot formed in said first end of said handle bar and communicating with said bore of said handle bar, said slot of said handle bar being selected from a dovetail slot, and said slot of said handle bar being tilted including a relatively wider lower portion and a relatively narrower upper portion, a weight member including an engaging member for engaging with said slot of said handle bar and for detachably attaching to said first end of said handle bar, said engaging member of said weight member being selected from a dovetail for engaging with said dovetail slot of said handle bar, said engaging member of said weight member being tilted including a relatively wider lower portion and a relatively narrower upper portion, and said weight member including an orifice formed therein for selectively aligning with said bore of said handle bar, and a latch slidably engaged into said bore of said handle bar, and extendible out of said first end of said handle bar and engageable into said orifice of said weight member for securing said weight member to said handle bar, a post attached to said latch, a knob slidably engaged onto said post, and said weight member including a passage formed therein and communicating with said orifice of said weight member for slidably engaging with said post.
 2. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle bar includes a cavity formed therein and communicating with said bore of said handle bar, and said post is slidably engaged with said cavity of said handle bar.
 3. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said knob includes a projection extended therefrom for selectively engaging with said cavity of said handle bar and for anchoring said knob and said latch to said handle bar.
 4. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a spring biasing member is engaged onto said post and engaged with said knob for biasing said projection of said knob to engage with said cavity of said handle bar.
 5. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said handle bar includes a seat formed therein and communicating with said cavity of said handle bar for selectively engaging with said projection of said knob.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weight member includes a recess formed therein and communicating with said passage of said weight member.
 8. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said weight member includes a seat formed in said weight member and communicating with said recess of said weight member. 9-10. (canceled)
 11. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weight member includes a slot formed therein and communicating with said orifice of said weight member.
 12. The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latch includes a guide channel formed therein, and said handle bar includes a stop attached to said handle bar and engaged with said guide channels of said latch for guiding and limiting said latch to slide relative to said handle bar and for preventing said latch from being disengaged from said handle bar. 